Early History of the MacKeag family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacKeag research.Another 189 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1583, 1493, 1589, 1772 and 1810 are included under the topic Early MacKeag History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacKeag Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname MacKeag that are preserved in archival documents are MacTeige, McTeige, MacTigue, McTigue, MacCaig, MacCaige, McCaig, McCaige, MacKaig, McKaig, MacKeague, McKeague, McKeage, MacTague and many more.

Early Notables of the MacKeag family (pre 1700)

Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacKeag Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacKeag family to the New World and Oceana

Irish families left their homeland in astonishing numbers during the 19th century in search of a better life. Although individual reasons vary, most of these Irish families suffered from extreme poverty, lack of work opportunities, and exorbitant rents in their homeland. Many decided to travel to Australia or North America in the hopes of finding greater opportunities and land. The Irish immigrants that came to North America initially settled on the East Coast, often in major centers such as Boston or New York. But like the many other cultures to settle in North America, the Irish traveled to almost any region they felt held greater promise; as a result, many Irish with gold fever moved all the way out to the Pacific coast. Others before that time left for land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula, or the Maritimes as United Empire Loyalists, for many Irish did choose to side with the English during the American War of Independence. The earliest wave of Irish migration, however, occurred during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the MacKeag name: Bernard, Charles, Edward, Hugh, Thomas and William McTague, who all arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1860; Andrew, Bernard, Hugh, John and William MacTeague arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.

The MacKeag Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.